Catching smelt - a Hamburg tradition

Smelt is a small sea fish that is mainly found in the coastal waters of Europe. It is just 15 centimetres long on average. At the end of February, large numbers of smelt gather at the deltas of large rivers such as the Elbe and swim upstream to their spawning grounds. In Hamburg, there is a long tradition of catching smelt and serving it on the table. In the past, so many smelt swam up the Elbe that they could be caught with wash baskets. Today, nets are used and since the rivers have been cleaner again, the smelt population has also recovered significantly.

Wines with smelt

Winery Wittmann JUBILUM Grauer Burgunder No. 1 2022

BIO

Exclusive with us

Winery Wittmann JUBILUM Grauer Burgunder No. 1 2022

Vineyard Wittmann

Rheinhessen, Germany, White wine, Grauer Burgunder

12.90 €

0.75 l, 17.20 € / liter

in stock

Winery Stiegelmar Weissburgunder 2023

Vineyard Stiegelmar

Neusiedlersee, Austria, White wine, Weißer Burgunder

9.50 €

0.75 l, 12.67 € / liter

in stock

Exclusive with us

Winery MALAT Grüner Veltliner Herrentrost 2021

Vineyard Malat

Kremstal, Austria, White wine, Grüner Veltliner

19.90 €

0.75 l, 26.53 € / liter

in stock

Teliani Valley Winery 97 Kakhuri No. 8 White 2022

Georgia, White wine, wine cuvée

14.45 €

0.75 l, 19.27 € / liter

in stock

Smelt used to be a poor man's food and is now - just like oysters - a delicacy. The fish is so small that it can be eaten with skin and hair, or rather with bones and fins. Traditionally, it is dredged in rye flour and fried in butter with bacon. It is served with fried potatoes.

A little anecdote by the way is the Hamburg vineyard. It is located directly above the Landungsbrücken on the slope of the so-called Stintfang. The vineyard comprises 75 vines of the Regent and Phoenix varieties, was planted in 1995 and slightly extended in 2008. We cannot offer you a wine from there, because the rosé-coloured cuvée called "Hamburger Stintfang Cuvée" is only distributed to honourable personalities and the mayor also receives a small amount each year. I wonder if he will open the fresh cuvée for this year's smelt season?

We offer you a different wine to accompany smelt with fried potatoes. Our JUBILUM Pinot Gris from Philipp Wittmann, undisputedly one of Germany's best winegrowers, is the perfect match!